Electric interlock for elevator doors



I April 5,1927.

S. P EELLE EILEC'IRIG I-N'I'ERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS Filed April 10,1925 I INVENTOR ATTORNEK Patented Apr. 5, 192?,

nonnnrr s. rnELLn, or norms, NEW YORK,- ASSIGNOR TO TEE rnELLn COMPANY,BROOKLYN, NEW YonK, A conronnrron or new YORK.

rarest- ELECTRIC INTERLOCK FOR ELEVATOR DOORS.

Application filed April 10, 1925. Serial No. 22,188.

My invention relates to electric interlocks for elevator doors, and moreparticularly to a construction of look by which 1ts assembly in theelevator door installation will be' may be operated only when the doorsof all of the floors of a building are closed. In securing the deslredresult it has long been the practice to provide switch mechanismsarranged in the c1rcu1t.to the motor and controlled by a member carriedby the door, so that upon any door being opened, the switch mechanismwill also be opened to interrupt the circuit to the elevator motor andwillremain open until the door has been again closed. 7

The various switch mechanisms adjacent all of the doors of one verticalseries have been arranged in electrical series with each other and withthe elevator motor, thus permitting the circuit to the motor to becontrolled by the movements of the door at any lVhen making the elevatordoor. installation which includes the electric interlocks, greatdifliculty has heretofore been experi enced in wiring the interlocksystem, and the construction of the interlock has been such that therehas been present a certain factor of uncertainty in its operation, sincewhile the closing of the circuit resulted from a positive movement ofthe locking mechanisms of the door, the opening of the circuit, althoughcontrolled by the elevator door lock mechanism, was permitted and notpositively caused by such movement.

Experience has shown that it is not uncommon for operators to destroythe efficiency of the electric interlock system by blocking a switchmechanism in such a way as to prevent the interruption of the cir- .cuitwith the opening of a door, thus clestroying the safety factor designedto be introduced in elevator door installations by the use of suchelectric interlocks. 7 .With the above conditions in mind, I haveproduced an electrical interlock for use in combination with elevatordoors of the so-called counterbalanced or analogous types of doors,wherein each switch mechanism may be i'irmly .supported'from the railstructure for the elevator doors in operative relation to theco-operating lockingmechanism upon the doors for controlling same, sothat a violent opening and closingmovement of the doorscannot'disarrange any of the parts of the switch mechanism, or any ofthe electrical connections therein. The construction is also such. as topermit ready access to all parts of the switch mechanism during theinstallation of the electric interlock system, while preventinginterference with the switch mechanism by-the elevator operator in amanner which would tend to prevent the opening, of the circuitsimultaneously with the initial openingof-the door. 7

While the construction of the switch mechanism proper is such as tocause the automatic actuation of the switch arm carrying amovablecontact, I so construct this arm and the co-operating member ofthe lockmechanism carried by the door, that this automatic feature maybe relied upon solely to maintain the contacts separated, the initialseparation of these contacts being positively effected upon theoperation of the door lock mechanism, and thus ensure not only against apossible failure of the inter ruption of the circuit with the release ofthe lock mechanism preparatory to the opening of a door but'the blockingof the switch arm and the switch mechanism by the operator. y V

In protecting the switch mechanism from access theretoby an operatorfrom within the shaft, while at the same time facilitating the making ofelectrical connections of the system, I provide a housing formed of oneintegral castingprovided with connecting chambers so formed as to permitfree access to the electrical conduits connecting the different housingsof a system and also to the switch mechanism proper, and the making ofthe electrical connections with the switch contacts, this housing beingso formed as to avoid any possible short circuiting through the movementof the switch arm mounted in one of these chambers. Both chambers arepreferably provided with r closure covers for the exclusion of dust,dirt and oil, and for. preventing access to within the housingwithoutthe use of'toolsr The housing also has 'c'ast integrally therewithsecuring meansconnected with the Wall an-,

j gle of the elevator guides, and a striker plate trolled by the lockmechanism of the ele-' vator door. By this construction per-ma operativeupon the actuating. member connency in the relation of various partsnecessary to a reliable actuation of the interlockmechanism is secured,since under no circumstances can any of the parts of the interlockbecome so disarranged as to interfcre with a. positive, certainoperation of the interlock with each unlatching and latching of the lockuponthe elevator door.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction andcombination of hereto appended. Referring to the drawings,

parts hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointedout in the claims Fig. 1 is a view of one electrical interlock mechanismof a system, and of fragmentary portions-of an elevator door and itslatch mechanism controlling the functioning of V same; and of the railstructure for supporting' the interlock; and

-' Fig. 2' is a section on the line 22 of Likeletters refer to like parts'in both of i 'said. views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown infthe'drawings, a indicatesthe upper section of acounterbalanced elevator door of the. usualconstruction, and?) the lower secti'on thereof. The upper sectioncarries the usuallatch member 0 co-operating. with a striker member (5constituting a part of the top bar structure of the lower section. At 6are shown portions of'the connecting means between the two door sectionsby winch they are caused to have simultaneous movement in oppositedirections during'the opening and closing of the door. 7

In the drawings, the invention is shown asapplied 'to ordinarycounterbalanced doors in which the two sections have movement in thesame vertical p-lane, but theinventioir may be applied in exactly thesame manner to doors in which the sect-ions have movement in parallelverticalplanes, or in which they pass fmm one vertical plane to another'diiring'the opening and closing movement. The door sections wand b aremounted upon suitable guides 7 carried by what is i wardly of. theshaft.

known asa wall angle g' which extends inlVhen electric interlocks areused, the switchincchanism form- "ing apart oftheinterlock is mountedupon the wall angle 9 in a position where the ,rnovable switch member,will be actuated substantially simultaneously with the gagement of the.latch member a with its lbers 2' a to prevent relative movement of thehous striker member (Z, thus permitting power to be applied to theelevator motor only atter the door has been closcdwhile at the same timeinterrupting the circuit to said mot-or substantially simultaneouslyw1th,.or prior to, the initial opening movement of the doors.

hly present invention relates more part-i0 V ularly to a construction ofthe switch mech-.;

anism by which it may be wired with greater facility, and the variousparts of the mechanism will not be subject to likelihood ofdisarrangement from vibrations due to the repeated actuation of doors,imparting greater reliability or dependability to its functioning; 'Atthe same time, the constrnction of the switch mechanism is such as tocause-the actuation of the latch member in either locking or unlockingthe door to act positively upon the switch mechanism to cause the makingand breaking of the en- .cuit to be under the control of the latchmemher, the construction of the movable part of the switch, however,being such as to prevent the closing of the switch except under thecontrol of said latch member.

The electric interlockof my invention includes a particular constructionof housing forkthe switch mechanism proper, a particular construction ofswitch mechanism proper, and a particular construction of cooperatingmember actuated by the latch mechanism and co-operating with saidhousing andsaid switch mechanism. 7

The switch mechanism proper is vvithin a housing having a curved strikerplate 72/, the curved surface of whichis presented upwardly 0f the topand having an opening therethrough at h adjacent the bottom, of thehousing. 7 gThis housing has upper and lower nipples z'z" for thereception'of the ends of ordinary electrical conduits 2' said nipplesincluding clamp momand being int-eriorly shouldered at ing and thefittings. This housing for convenience of expression may be'consideredthe convenient connectionof the wires with the b .iding posts of theswitch mechanism. The top and bottom walls of said housing with theswitch mechanisnn and to permit are connected by a vertically extendingpartiti-on h supporting the binding posts and the contacts of the switchmechanism, this partition being of a'width to afford an opening betweenthe chambers ZIP-b sufiicient to permit convenient access from thechamber 72, to the chamber b when making the electrical connections.

The portion of the housing about the chamber h extends from the portionforming the chamber h a" sufficient distance to afford ample spacebetween the rear edge ofthe partition 72/ and the closed back of thehousing (as shown more particularly in Fig. 2) to permit the convenientrunning of wires, and access to the chamber it from both the back andfront thereof.

The front of the housing is provided with extensions k and 7&0 extendingabove and below the top and the bottom respectively of the housing, bymeans of which the housing may be securely bolted to the wall angle 9adjacent the edge of the flange thereof extending inwardly of the shaft,the striker member it being positioned inwardly of the shaft withrelation to the said edge of said wall angle.

All parts of the housing It to if and portions of the nipples 'iz" aremade of a single integral casting, thus ensuring per 'manency in therelation of all of the parts of the housing.

The opening by which access may be had to the chamber 7:? and'from saidchamber to the chamber 76 is closed by a cap and the front of thechamber ha is closed by a cap j thus protecting the wiring and switchmechanisms from dust, dirt and oil which accumulate rapidly about allparts of a rail structure of an elevator shaft.

The switch mechanism proper consists of two fixed contacts -40 alsoserving as binding posts by means of which the conductor wire m maybeconnected with one of said contacts, and the conductor wire m may beconnected with the other of said contacts. These contacts are mountedupon a block 70 of insulating material, the means securing saidcontactsin posit-ion upon said plate being insulated by the strip 70 from thepartition 1 to which the contacts are secured by means of the insulatingblock W, by screws, or'in any other desired manner. V r

Co-operating with the contacts 70- 73 is a bridge contact plate nslidingly mounted upon an angular, stem 91/ and acted upon by a springM, a pin a limiting the action of said spring upon said stem at. 'Thestem n is carried by a block of insulation 0, the

means of attachment of said stem and said block being protected by aninsulating strip 0, said stem being secured to a switch arm fixedcontacts 7a-k'. The normal action of the spring if, when the movablecontact 15 engaged with the fixed contacts, will be to elevator motor,the wires mm being a part of this circuit. This member, in the form ofthe invention shown, comprises a bolt 9 having a projection q at thefree end thereof, adapted to enter a recess or socket in the movableswitch member ;0 formed by an extension r at the bottom of said switcharm and an upwardly :ext'end-V ing end r carried by said extension. Theconstruction of said projection and the arrangement of said socketforming parts are such that these parts engage or interlocksubstantially simultaneously with the engagement of the bolt member Qwith the switch arm, so that the retraction of said bolt member willsupplement" the action of the spring 77, and of the overbalancing weightp in moving the bridge contact member out of engaging relation with thefixed contacts 7c7s, substantially. simultaneously with, or immediatelyfollowing, the release of the latch c, or during the initial openingmovement of the door sections at and b.

The latch member 0 isacted upon by a suitable spring 0 having a normaltendency 'not only to engage the latch member with its co-operatingkeeper, but to engage the member g withthe switch arm p.

At 8 I have shown a guide strap for the member or bolt 9, there beingsuflicient clearance to compensate for the slight are t of movement ofsaid bolt, resulting from pivotal movement of the latch member-c.

The operation of the herein described interlock is substantially asfollows In installing the interlock, the housing with the switchmechanism assembled therein is mounted by means of bolts to the inwardlydirected flange of the wall angle, being so positioned as to have theopening through the striker plate It in accurate register with themember or bolt g, and the socket formed 1n the switch arm 37 in engagingrelation with the projectiong. The

conduits 2' are then positioned in the nipples iz" provided thereforrespectively, each of these conduits extending from the housing at onedoor opening to the housing-at the adjacent door openings above andbelow; i The shoulderswithin the nipples 2 7 will prevent sliding.movement oi the con- 7 duits to within the chamber 7x of any housing,these shoulders supplementing the action of the clamps formed by thesaid nipples. V Y Y By.tl1isconstruct-ion, since all of the switchesare'in series inthe same circuit, it is apparent that, short lengths ofwire may be used, thus avoiding all'that delay and inconvenienceincidental to drawing a wire throughoutthe entire length of the conduitand the various housings before making the electrical connections, andcutting and reby r the adjusting the'wire' when making-such conincctions. When' these short lengths are used, the free ends of the wiremay be conveniently brought by hand about the partit on if and connectedwith one or the other of the binding posts formed by the contacts le-71.

When a door is closed, the latch mechanism c,'the switch arm 79, and themember member or bolt actuated fromthe latch and acting upon said switcharm will be in the positions shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the springa? being t'ensioned through the pressure exerted upon the switch armspring acting upon the latch mechanism. 7 When the parts are so posi- VI tioned, it is tobe noted that the projection 1 is engaged wlththeupwardly extending end '1" oftheextension r.

hen it is desired to open the door, the latch is actuated by theoperator to disengage its hooked end from the keeper cl upon the doorsection b,-.the pivotal movement of the latch member in thus disengagingit from said 1 keeper d drawing the bolt or member Q away from the wallangle. This movement'of said member or bolt w ll not only permit thespring a and the overbalancing weight g) to. act to separate the bridgecontact n from the hXed contacts 7- --Zi', but willimpart a positivemovement .7 to said switch arm inthe event that it does i" not m we asrapidly asdoes the bolt They il'i'iov'enient o't the member or bolt 9must occur before opening movement can be I imparted to the door, or becomplete by the time that the latch member 0 is disengaged ironr itskeeper (l. 1 v

The overbalancing wei ht p" will,- .through the switch arm 72,1naintainthe contactf'n out of engagement with the fixed contacts Zs-Zf. I p V Adoor i's closed by merely drawing down the upper section, this movement,through the connecting means 6, causing the lower section bio haveauuinvard movement.

the; end of the member orbolt reachesv the opening thr'oi'igh thestriker/z, which will be substantially. simultaneously with the'passageof the hooked end of the latch through its keeper (Z, the springcacts si-' doors to remain open multaneously upon said latch member andsaid fixed contacts. This rubbing contact will ensure a desired intimateengagement between the movable and the fixed contacts thus eiiectivelyclosing the circuit through Saidswitch mechanism, it'being understoodthat all other switch mechanisms in the shaft must be likewise closed inorder to permit theapplication of power to the ele vator. When engagingtheswitch arm. 9,

the projection q of the'membe'r or bolt 7Q will enter the socket formedby the. extension 1" and projecting end 1*, so that the bolt cannot be.with-drawn from its engaging relation with the switch arm without movingthe contact plate 12 out of engaging relation with the fixed contactsjckp The interlocking of the member or bolt g with the switch arm '20 inthe manner described not only ensures the opening of the V circuit priorto, or simultaneously with,,the initial-opening movement of the door,but prevents the blocking of the switch arm in a manner to cause it tooperate independ ently of the door, or to remainclosed, notwithstandingthat the member or bolt 1 has been retracted and the door opened. Infact,- this construction prevents any tamporing with the switchmechanism which would result in a condition permitting operatednevertheless. .7

The offsetting of the two chambers h h with relation to each other, notonly brings the striker h inwardly of the shaft in the proper positionwith relation to the plane of movement or the member q, but positionsthe conduits i so as to afford ample space for thehandling ot'the endsof the wires, and their convenient passage to the Cl1t111-- and theelevator to be e ber h and connection with the binding posts upon thecontacts 7c7c.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstrue-.

tion shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be variedwithout de-- parting from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is V 1. An electric interlock for elevatordoors embodying therein the. combination with a vertically movable doorsection, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and a guidestructure for said section including a wall angle, of a housing securedto said wall angle having an opening therethrough adapted to permit thepassage of a bolt, and a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt to saidopening, an electrical switch mechanism in said housing embodyingtherein co-operating fixed and movable contact members, and a movablemember projecting across the opening in said housing, said contactsbeing arranged in circuit with the motor for actuating an elevator car,a bolt operatively connected with said latch mechanism and adapted topass through said opening and engageusaid movable member when the doorsection is in the closed position, a socket forming projection upon saidmovable member and projecting through the opening in said housing intoengaging relation with said bolt, and a projection upon said boltadapted to enter and interlock with said socket, whereby said switchmechanism will be positively actuated to both close and open the circuitin which it is arranged substantially simultaneously with the settingand the release of said latch mechanism, with the closing, orpreparatory to the opening, of the door' section.

2. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein thecombination with a door structure comprising two door sections havingsimultaneous vertical movement in opposite directions when opening andclosing the door, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried by one ofsaid sections, and a guide structure for said sections including a wallangle, of a housing secured to said wall angle at substantially themeeting point of said door sections having an open ing therethroughadapted to permit'the passage of a bolt, and a striker-plate adapted toguide the bolt to said opening, an electrical switch mechanism in saidhousing embodying therein co-operating fixed and movable contactmembers, and a movable member projecting across the opening in saidhousing, said contacts being arranged in circuit with the motor foractuating an elevator car, a bolt operatively connected with said latchmechanism and adapted to pass through said opening and engage saidmovable member when the door sections are in the closed position, asocket forming projection upon said movable member and projectingthrough the opening in said housing into engaging relation with saidbolt, and a projection upon said bolt adapted to enter and interlockwith said socket, whereby said switch mechanism will be positivelyactuated to both close and open" the circuit in which it is arrangedsubstantially simultaneou sly with the setting and the release of saidlatch mechanism with the closing, or

preparatory to theopening, of the door.

3. An electric interlock for elevatordoors embodying therein thecombination with a vertically movablefdoor section, a spring actuatedlatch mechanism carried thereby, ind a guide structure for said sectionincluding a wall angle, of a. housing secured to said engage said switcharm when the door section is in the closed position, said bolt having aprojection adapted to interlock with said socket-forming means upon saidmovable switch arm when the door section is in the, closed position,whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated to both closeand open the circuit in which it is arranged substantiallysimultaneously with'the setting and the release of said latch mechanismwith the closing, or preparatory to the opening, of the door section.

4:. An electric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein thecombination with ;a

door structure comprising two door sections having a simultaneousvertical movement in opposite directions when opening and closing thedoor, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried by one of said sections,and a guide structure for said sections including a wall angle, of ahousing secured to said wall angle at substantially the meeting point ofsaid door sections having an opening therethrough adapted to permit thepassa e of a bolt, and a. striker plate adapted to gui e the bolt tosaid opening, an electrical switch mechanism-in said housing arranged incircuit with the motor for actuating an elevator car, saidswitchmechanism including a movable switch arm having socket-formingmeans projecting through said openin in said housing and beyond saidstriker p ate, and a bolt operatively connected with said latchmechanism and adapted to pass through said opening and engage saidswitch arm when the door section is in the ,closed position, said bolthaving a projection adapted to interlock with said socketforming meansupon said movable switch arm when the door section is in the closedposition, whereby said switch mechanism will be positively actuated tovboth close and open the circuit in which it -is arranged substantiallysimultaneously with the setc iHe'rena'ssar said latch mechanism wit.theclosing, or preparatory to the openof the door section. I5;Anpelectric interlock for elevator doors embodying therein thecombination with a "vertically movable door sectlon, a spring ,actuatedlatch mechanism carried thereby, and a guide structure tor'said sectionincluding. aT wal'l angle, of a housing secured to vsaid wall anglehaving an opening there-- 'through'adapted' to permit the passage of abolt, and a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt tosaid opening, anelectrical switch mechanism in said housing arranged in oilcuit'with themotor for actuating an elevator car,sa'1d switch mechanism includingspaced fixed- .contacts within said housing, a p1-v v oted switch arm, aistem carried by said switch arm,; bridge contact slidably mountedupon'said stem, a. spring acting to normally thrust said bridge contacttowards said fi-Xed contacts, an overbalanc ng weight operative uponsaid switch arm to normally maintain said bridge contact out ofengagement with said fixed contacts, a socket iornn ing. pro ectlon uponsaid switch arm propecting through the opening-in said housing int-oengaging relation with a bolt, and a bolt operatively connected withsaid latch mechanism and adapted to pass through said 5 openingxandengage said switch arm when the door section is in the closed position,

said bolt-having a projection adapted to interlock with saidsocket-forming projec tio-n' upon said movable switch arm when l doorsection is in the closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will bepositively actuat-ed to both close and open'the circuit in which it isarranged substantially simultaneously with the setting and the rel'e'ase.oiisaid latch mechanism with the closirrg, "or preparatory to theopening, of the door sect-ion. 7

6; An electric interlock for 'elevator doors embodyin-g therein thecombination with a vertically movable door section, a spring actuatedlatch mechanism carried thereby,

- and a guide structureior said section in- :cltiding "awall angle, ofa. housing secured to said wall angle, having opening therethroughadapted to "permit the passage of abolt, two connected chambers, one ofwhich is offset toward the wall of the elevator shaft with relation tothe other, a striker plate adapted to guide the bolt to said opening,and a partition 7 partially closing the chamber inwardly ofthe shai't,spacedfixed 'contacts carried'by and insulated from said partition,"am'ovable switch arm mounted 'liYSfl'ICl Cllfllhbfil ad acentsaid'partition and projecting across the opening in said l1ousing, abridge contact carried by said switch and adapted to cooperate with saidfixedyco'ntacts to make-or break the circuit "to th-e motor for theelevator car, a bolt 'tively.

operatively connected with said latch inecjhamsm and adapted to passthrough said open mg in said housing and engage said SWitQll arm whenthe door section is in the closed position, means operative upon saidswitch arm whereby the bridge contact will be maintained out'oieng'agement with said fixed n contacts when said bolt is withdranui fromengagement with said arm while the door 7' is open, a socket formingprojection upon said switch arm pro ecting through the epenmg 113 saidhousing into relation with said bolt, and a projection upon said boltadapted to enter and interlock with said socket, whereby said switchmechanism will be positivelyactuated to openthelci'rcuit inwhich it isarranged substantially simultaneously with the settingand the release ofsaid latch mechanism with the closing, or preparatory to the opening, olthe door section. a I r 7. An electric interlock for elevator doorsembodying therein the combination with a vertically movable doorsection, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and

guide structure for said section including a wall angle, or a housingsecured to said wall angle, having two connectedchambers,

one of which is oliset toward the wall or the j elevator shaft withrelation to the other, conduit nipples leading am said chamberpositionedtoward the wall: of the elevator shaft,

tacts to make or break the circuit to the motor for the elevator car, abolt op'eratively a connected with said latch mechanism and adapted toengage said switch arm and close said switch mechanism when the door section is in the closed position, means operative upon said switch armwhereby the bridge contact will be maintained out of one gagement withsaid fixed contacts when said bolt is withdrawn from engagement withsaid arm while the door is open, and-removable closure caps for saidchambers respec- 8. An electric interlock forelevator doorsem'bodyingatherein the combination with a vertically movable doorsection, a spring actuated latch mechanism carried thereby, and

a guide structure for said section including a wallangle, of a housingsecured to said wall angle, having two connected chambers, one ofwhich-1s oli set toward the wall of the elevator shaft with relation tothe other, a

partitionpartially closing the chamber in-,

ward-1y ofthe shaft," spaced fixed contacts carried by and insulatedtrom-saidpartition, a movable switch arm mounted in saidchamber adjacentsaid partition, a bridge contact carried by said switch arm and adaptedto co-operate with said fixed contacts to make or break the circuit tothe motor for the elevator car, a bolt operatively connected with saidlatch mechanism and adapted to engage said switch arm and close saidswitch mechanism when the door section is in the closed position, astriker member having an opening therethrough adapted to permit thepassage of said bolt into or out of engaging relation with said switcharm and formed integrally with other portions of said housing, and meansoperative upon said switch arm whereby the bridge contact will bemaintained out of engagement with said fixed contacts when said bolt iswithdrawn one of which is offset toward the wall of the elevator shaftwith relation to the other, a partition partially closing the chamberinwardly of the shaft, spaced fixed contacts carried by and insulatedfrom said partition, a movable switch arm mounted in said mally thrustsaid bridge contact towards" said fixed contacts, an overbala-ncingweight operative upon said switch arm to normally maintain said bridgecontact outof engagement with said fixed contacts, a bolt operativelyconnected with said latch mechanism and adapted to engage said switcharm and close said switch mechanism when the door section is in theclosed position, and a striker member having an opening therethroughadapted to permit the passage of said bolt into or out of engagingrelation with said switch arm and formed integrally with other portionsof said housing, said bolt having a projection adapted to interlock withsaid socket-forming means uponv said movable switch arm when the doorsection is in the closed position, whereby said switch mechanism will bepositively actuated to open the circuit in which it is arrangedsubstantially simultaneously with the release of said latch mechanismpreparatory to the opening of the door section. 1

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 7th day'ofApril, 1925.

ROBERT S. PEELLE.

